Spotlight on: Balochistan Foundational Learning Policy

Young child in an ALP centre in Balochistan (Source: PMU Balochistan)

What is the goal of the Balochistan Foundational Learning Policy?

The Balochistan Foundational Learning Policy aims to ensure that, by 2030, all children in Balochistan achieve universal literacy and numeracy skills by the end of Grade 3. 

What is Foundational Learning according to the Balochistan Foundational Learning Policy?

The policy defines foundational learning as basic literacy, numeracy and transferable skills, such as, socio-emotional skills … In other words, it is the ability of a child to read and understand a simple text, write and perform simple mathematical operations.

What are the benchmarks for Foundational Learning?

The objective of the Balochistan Foundational Learning Policy is to ensure that all children enrolled in schools across Balochistan develop essential literacy and numeracy skills at grade 3 level. Aligned with the National Curriculum of Pakistan (2022-2023) for English, Urdu, and Mathematics, the policy outlines the key competency benchmarks that every student in the province must achieve.

Source: Balochistan Foundational Learning Policy

What are the pillars of the Balochistan Foundational Learning Policy?

The Balochistan Foundational Learning Policy has 8 pillars:

1. One Hour of Reading & Numeracy RemediationTraining of primary school teachers

2. Reading content and teaching learning material

3. Reading and numeracy assessments and examination

4. Community engagement to foster reading culture

5. Implementation structure and monitoring requirements

6. Oversight and governance

7. School specific financing

What are Balochistan’s plans for implementation?

Following policy notification, the Balochistan School Education Department has started implementing the policy in some districts. Schools in these districts will introduce a daily reading hour and hold two numeracy remediation classes each week. They will also conduct an annual diagnostic assessment and receive a dedicated budget to support foundational learning activities.

Key Areas of Implementation under the Balochistan Foundational Learning Policy: